Slurping tea is very common in China, but it can be annoying sometimes in the West. In this article, we'll discuss the benefits of slurping tea, why it could be bad manners, and how you can solve this with a simple trick.
Why Slurping Tea?
In the world of artisan tea, the aroma is as important as the taste. In fact, the aroma is often what makes a particular tea unique. By slurping tea, you’ll mix the tea with more oxygen in your mouth, allowing you to pick up way more aroma! The same thing can in fact be said about slurping coffee.
Another important factor is that slurping actually cool down the temperature of tea slightly, making it more pleasant to drink. Moreover, with very hot drinks, it's hard to recognize the subtle flavors. By slurping a small amount, you'll solve this problem by instantly cooling the tea.
By slurping tea, you’ll mix the tea with more oxygen in your mouth, allowing you to pick up way more aroma!
Is Slurping Tea Bad Manners?
While slurping tea is very common in China, this may work differently in other countries and cultures. Those not familiar with the benefits of slurping may find the sound annoying.
Often times, people slurp to cool down the tea. While this is the main reason, most people will still prefer you to just wait a few minutes until your drink gets to drinking temperature. While looking into online discussions about this topic, it seems to be especially annoying in office environments.
How To Drink Tea Without Slurping & Still Fully Enjoy It
If you're in a public area enjoying your tea, you can do the following instead of slurping:
- Drink and leave the tea in your mouth for 5 seconds, letting it cover the surfaces inside your mouth.
- Then swallow but keep your mouth closed to lock in the aroma.
- Now breath in through your nose.
This method allows you to still fully appreciate all the flavors your tea has to offer, but without the noise of slurping!